Lonely Planet Costa Rica

by Matthew Firestone and Wendy Yanagihara
Stroll through pristine cloud forests and peer into simmering volcanoes, catch the perfect turquoise wave and howl back at howler monkeys, gaze at the waters of the Caribbean and the Pacific from the top of Mt Chirripo - Costa Rica is an adventurer's dream. Packed with expert advice on making the most of your trip, our authoritative guide will help you discover your own paradise in the land of pura vida.
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Costa Rican Wildlife, An Introduction to Familiar Species

by James Kavanagh
Must-have reference guide for beginners and experts alike, providing an
introduction to species that are familiar, widespread and/or unusual in Costa Rica.
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Costa Rica

Suspension Walkway in Selvatura Cloud Forest, Guanacaste

Costa Rica is often voted as one of the best travel destinations.
With a population of just over 4 million, Costa Rica straddles Central America between the Pacific and the Caribbean.
The climate differs widely across the country, with two main seasons: dry (November-April) and wet (May-October).
The Pacific province of Guanacaste has the dryest climate, although rainfall in the wet season maight make
you think otherwise.

Costa RicaWaterfall, Guanacaste

Lonely Planet's Costa Rica Guide states:

'Surfer dudes, bird nerds, hiking fiends, mountain trekkers, back-to-the-land fans,
beach bums and party animals have all found something common in Costa Rica. The waves are prime,
the natural beauty staggering, the pace of life slow, the beer plentiful and the locals friendly.
A stronghold of peace in a region torn by strife, this tiny nation attracts a stream of more
than a million eager visitors annually.'

A distinctive, and probably crucial, feature is that the country abolished
its armed forces after the 1948 civil war. It has no army - and, therefore, no coups, military
juntas or interference with its democratic processes. The people are gentle and courteous and
consider themselves (with some justification) to be more cvilized than their neighbours in
Nicaragua and Guatemala. Education and basic healthcare are free for Costa Ricans with the result that
literacy is high (about 95%) and the average lifespan is longer than that of the USA. However, the main
highways apart, the roads are appalling.

Costa Rica has a remarkable and laudable attitude towards conservation with no
less than 27% of its land area under one kind of protection or another and 14% in the
national park system. Leatherback turtles lay eggs on its beaches, monkeys and sloths inhabit lush
forests
and birdlife is prolific. The country also has some fascinating volcanic areas.

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